hell-cat
Definition
- Noun:
- A fierce, violent, or spiteful woman: "hell-cat" refers to a woman who is extremely aggressive, quarrelsome, or malevolent in temperament.
- A witch or sorceress: In older or figurative usage, "hell-cat" can denote a woman believed to possess supernatural evil powers, akin to a hag or demon.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The old woman was called a hell-cat by the villagers because of her sharp tongue and angry outbursts. (A fierce, quarrelsome woman.)
- In the legend, the hell-cat cast a curse on the kingdom, causing endless storms. (A witch or sorceress with malevolent power.)
Advanced Usage
"to be a hell-cat": to behave or be perceived as a fiercely aggressive or spiteful woman.
- She turned into a hell-cat when anyone questioned her authority. (She became violently angry and confrontational.)
"hell-cat temper": a notoriously violent or uncontrollable anger, specifically attributed to a woman.
- Her hell-cat temper made her feared in the office. (Her fierce, explosive anger intimidated others.)
Variants and Related Words
Hellcat (n): a less common variant spelling, often used interchangeably.
- The gossip called her a hellcat after the argument. (A fierce, aggressive woman.)
Catty (adj): spiteful or malicious in a subtle, often petty way (related in tone but not direct derivation).
- Her catty remarks about his clothes were unnecessary. (Spiteful comments.)
Synonyms
- Shrew: a woman with a violent, nagging temper.
- Virago: a woman of great strength and courage, but often used pejoratively for a violent or aggressive woman.
- Harpy: a mythological creature, used metaphorically for a cruel, grasping woman.
Related Idioms
"A hell-cat in a china shop": a humorous exaggeration meaning a destructive or disruptive woman in a delicate situation.
- She was a hell-cat in a china shop at the negotiation table. (She caused chaos and damage through her aggression.)
"To raise hell": to cause a violent disturbance or uproar, often associated with the behavior of a hell-cat.
- He raised hell when he found out about the betrayal. (He created a furious scene.)